NORTHAMPTON FIELD USE

Northampton's Department of Public Works is directly responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the city's fields

The league pays a per player fee up to 25.00 per player to the City of Northampton to utilize use city fields each season.

NBSL will work closely with the Department of Public Works to identity and assist where it can with field improvements each season.

Ultimately, any improvement or maintenance responsibility is that of the City of Northampton as NBSL does not own/operate any field.

WEATHER RELATED CANCELLATION:

The City of Northampton is directly in charge of making the decision on whether fields are safe and playable for any and all activities (practices & games both)

When weather impacts the day, Northampton's Department of Public Works will review the field conditions and will indicate to NBSL whether activity can safely take place.

NBSL will then update any cancellation on its website and communicate to coaches what is taking place, coaches in turn will advise their teams on events
 

General rule of thumb for timing of decisions:

Weekday decisions on obvious weather related cancellations are made by 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday

Weekend decisions on obvious weather related cancellations are made by 8:30 am Saturday & Sunday

After 4:30pm Monday thru Friday the decisions about cancellation due to weather are left to the league, umpires & coaching staff to determine if safe play can occur.

On days where weather is likely to impact the afternoon/evening schedule, the league will make every effort to post to its website that day’s game status,
only after learning of determination from Northampton's Department of Public Works

CLICK HERE FOR THE NBSL WEBSITE LINK FOR WEATHER ALERTS

GAMES IN OTHER COMMUNITIES:
NBSL does not make decisions for away games
Other Communities make all determinations for games played in their community
Other Communities will reach out to your teams coaching staff for details about game cancellations. 

THUNDER & LIGHTNING POLICY:
Thunder or lightning necessitates that all outdoor practices and competitions be suspended.

The occurrence of thunder and/or lightning is not subject to interpretation or discussion - thunder is thunder, lightning is lightning.

Before a practice/game begins, take a look around and have a plan for shelter prior to the start of any contest.

When thunder is heard or when lightning is seen, the following procedures must be executed:

•      Suspend play and direct participants to the previously identified shelter, a building normally occupied by the public or if a building is unavailable,
       participants should go inside a vehicle with a solid metal top (e.g. bus, van, car)
•      Do not permit people to stand under or near a tree; and have all stay away from poles, antennas, towers and underground watering systems.
•      After thunder and/or lightning has left the area, wait 30 minutes after the last boom is heard or strike is seen before resuming play or competition. 
       If during the 30-minute wait period additional thunder and/or lightening is present, the wait period of 30 minutes starts over.